View Larger
Rate it!
Avg: 4.5 (123 ratings)
- Date Released: February 13, 2007
- Genre: International
- Style: Africa
- Label: World Village / IODA
Ali Farka Touré passes the torch to his prodigiously gifted son
-
We Say...
Perhaps surprisingly, the late Ali Farka Touré wanted his son to be a soldier, not a musician. But nature couldn't be denied, and after much debate young Vieux finally took the stage with his father's blessing. He picks up the desert blues mantle and runs with it, bringing in help to funk it up on "Wosoubour" and "Ana," but never forgetting the roots that nurtured him and shine through so brightly on cuts like "Sangaré." A pair of instrumental duets with Toumani Diabaté, his kora-playing mentor, offer soft, breathless serenity (with the hushed "Diabaté" a perfect closer). But pride of place here has to go to the two tracks that feature Vieux and his father together, the last pieces Ali cut before his untimely death, where Vieux happily takes a back seat as Ali plays his distinctive monochordal blues with a quiet, hypnotic intensity. This may be Vieux Farka Touré's first recording, but it's far more than a debut; instead, it's the sound of a torch being passed from one generation to the next.
-
They Say...
Many sons and daughters of musicians have attempted to follow in the footsteps of a renowned parent, but the percentage who have succeeded in finding their own way, not just carrying the torch but lighting it anew, is a small one indeed. Vieux Farka Touré's father was the late Ali Farka Touré, one of the uncontested trailblazers of African music, and Vieux's debut album was released less than a year after the 2006 passing of his father, which could lead one to suspect a cashing in on the name and reputation of the man often credited with drawing the line between traditional Malian guitar music and American blues. But Vieux Farka Touré's album is such a triumph in every way that the question isn't whether he will carry on the legacy, but rather just how much further he will take it. And for years there existed the possibility that this music wouldn't even happen. Ali, it seems, didn't want his son to become a musician, and actually forbid him to become one. He didn't want Vieux to have to endure the hardships that he had experienced in the music industry. But nature took its course, and Vieux first became a drummer before discovering that his true calling lay in the very same instrument -- Vieux plays both electric and acoustic guitar -- that had brought his father international recognition. At the urging of Toumani Diabaté, the great Malian kora player, Ali was urged to reconsider and ultimately gave his son his blessing. Both Diabaté and Touré, Sr. appear on the album, adding their wisdom and experience, building a bridge that Vieux so ably crosses. Vieux's guitar style is, to be honest, reminiscent of Ali's -- that's to be expected: the son grew up hearing Ali Farka Touré music every day and absorbed it into his blood. But Vieux's exceptional musicianship hints at more -- he's already a masterful player in his own right and he has his ear cocked toward the future, not only the past. He is at once sensitive and soulful but can easily turn it around and unleash a fleet-fingered solo that is so spellbinding you'll find yourself thinking, blasphemous though it may be, that his dad could never do that. Vieux's music is as distinctively Malian as Ali's, but it also lurches forward, easily traversing the worlds of reggae, funk, rock, and R&B, as well as naturally incorporating those bluesy tones that, in the hands of Ali, caused so many to make connections they had never made before. Vieux is also a talented songwriter with plenty to say -- his compositions are grand and lush melodically and positive and spiritual lyrically, as well as sometimes humorous (translations are provided). He is also a more than passable singer. Produced by Eric Herman and engineered and mixed by Dave Ahl, Vieux Farka Touré is also a pristinely recorded work, crisp and direct, with everything up front and undiluted. As far as debut albums go, this one is nearly perfect.
“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”
Rolling Stone
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 10 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 10 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. |  |
Sangaré |
4:39 |
|
| 02. | |
Dounia |
4:42 |
|
| 03. | |
Tabara
|
3:20 |
|
| 04. | |
Ana |
4:02 |
|
| 05. | |
Ma Hine Cocore |
4:00 |
|
| 06. | |
Touré de Niafunké
|
4:30 |
|
| 07. | |
Diallo
|
7:12 |
|
| 08. | |
Wosoubour |
3:33 |
|
| 09. | |
Courage
|
4:21 |
|
| 10. | |
Diabaté
|
9:17 |
|
10 Total Tracks, 49:36 Total Length
Loading...
Playlists If you like Vieux Farka Touré, check out these member playlists
Explore music recommended by Vieux Farka Touré fans
Credits
- Ali Farka Touré - Guitar // Ali Farka Touré - Guitar // Ali Farka Touré - Arranger // Ali Farka Touré - Arranger // Dave Ahl - Organ // Dave Ahl - Arranger // Dave Ahl - Glockenspiel // Dave Ahl - Clavinet // Dave Ahl - Engineer // Dave Ahl - Associate Producer // Dave Ahl - Horn Arrangements // Dave Ahl - Mixing // Toumani Diabaté - Arranger // Toumani Diabaté - Arranger // Toumani Diabaté - Arranger // Toumani Diabaté - Kora // Toumani Diabaté - Kora // Toumani Diabaté - Kora // UE Nastasi - Mastering // Amada Diarra - Djembe // Yves Wernert - Engineer // Yves Wernert - Clapping // Yves Wernert - Assistant Producer // Matt Hilgenberg - Trumpet // Eric Herman - Arranger // Eric Herman - Glockenspiel // Eric Herman - Guitar (Bass) // Eric Herman - Guitar (Rhythm) // Eric Herman - Vocals // Eric Herman - Producer // Eric Herman - Clapping // Eric Herman - Executive Producer // Eric Herman - Shaker // Eric Herman - Horn Arrangements // Eric Herman - Assistant Engineer // Mahamadou Koné - Tama // Vieux Farka Touré - Guitar (Acoustic) // Vieux Farka Touré - Guitar // Vieux Farka Touré - Arranger // Vieux Farka Touré - Guitar (Electric) // Vieux Farka Touré - Guitar (Rhythm) // Vieux Farka Touré - Vocals // Vieux Farka Touré - Calabash // Vieux Farka Touré - Scraper // Tim Keiper - Drums // Tim Keiper - Tambourine // Tim Keiper - Triangle // Tim Keiper - Shaker // Ibrahim Coulibaly - Clapping // Ibrahim Coulibaly - Assistant Engineer // Mamadou Fofana - Flute // Mamadou Fofana - Guitar (Bass) // Mamadou Fofana - Assistant Producer
Choose from over 7 million
music downloadseMusic features legendary and emerging artists in every genre: classic rock to classical,indie to international, soundtracks to spiritual, jazz to country and many more.
MP3 downloads work on any digital media player
With eMusic, you OWN your music without any restrictions. Burn music to a CD, play it on your computer, mobile phone or any digital media player - including iPod®, Zune® and Walkman®.
Songs available for 50¢ or less
eMusic subscriptions start at just $11.99 a month for 24 downloads - that's just 50¢ per song! And it gets better from there - our plans go as low as 42¢ per song!
Music Discovery
eMusic is about discovery. We make finding new music fun again with music recommendations from our award-winning team of music experts, member playlists and new music features.
Cancel anytime
With all the great music and site features we're pretty sure you will love eMusic. If not, no problem. You can cancel at any time and keep the music you have downloaded.
© 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC